Media Books

I've read AND own all the Warriors books that are currently published. I am waiting for Book Four of the Power of Three series. I recently read all the manga books, the original series, The New Propphecy,the Feild Guide, and Cats of the Cans. I also read the three Power of Three books that are sold now.
I recommend these books to everyone. Little kids will enjoy the adventure, but there is buits of romance, sadness, horror, and funniness in these books. They are great for all ages, but the older you are the more you understand. I recomennd reading them slowly, they pass by too quickly. I've read... hmm... 19 books- no, 23- in probably 2 months. And thats just this series. I've read plenty more. so please, please but the first book of the series. If you want to buy this one and you read the ones before, please do because all of them are very good books. I'm only 11, but I think these books are great! firestar, Brambleclaw, Jaypaw, and Graystripe are the different ain characters of each series. But the series are connected. for example, Firestar is eventually leader in Warriors, and is also leader in all the other Warriors series. PLEASE BUY THIS BOOK!!

All of the Erin Hunter books are great! I just love them and have read them many times over. I am not a reader, I hate to read!!! But give me a Warrior series book and leave me alone for a few days. They are the best. Thanks Erin for opening up a new world for me.

This book to me was very, very exciting. The main character, Fireheart has just become a true warrior of the Thunderclan, along with his best freind Graystripe. Together they faced many things but when Graystripe meets a she- cat from an enemy clan they're freindship starts to fall apart. Another problem in this book is Tigerclaw, the deputy of the Thunderclan. Every cat in the Thunderclan looks up to Tigerclaw, except Fireheart, who besides Graystipe and a fromer cat from thunderclan, named Ravenpaw, know a very cold- blooded thing that this deputy has done.When no one believes the story that Fireheart has to tell about Tigerclaw strnage tings start to happen in the Forest.

Pre-teen and early teen girls love the series. It has my 10 year olds attention. She is reading like never before.

this book is very good. I like all of the characters(except Tigerclaw!), and I like how Bluestar asks Fireheart and Graystripe to find WindClan. The events are very exiting, but I don't get why it's called Fire and Ice. It has nothing to do with the book. This book will have you wanting to read every second of the day!

This second book is a real charmer. With a little bit of everything, D.J. Machale reaches inside the readers emotionaly. He makes fantasies come to life inside these wondrous pages.

I won't be able to put an in-depth review since I read the book a while back and am on book 7 right now so my head is swimming with information from all the books.

The second book in the Pendragon series throws the reader back into the territories of Halla. As we last read, Bobby had gotten back to Second Earth to realize that his life there was over. When Loor and Press come to drive him away back to another territory, he once again leaves behind Courtney Chetwynde and Mark Dimond, the two who he had been sending the journals to.

This book has an even more enthralling storyline as you meet yet another traveler, Spader, a young guy from a territory completely underwater. You grow to like him and his "people-person" attitude.

This book continues to show Saint Dane's power, and just what happens in the beginning (I don't want to spoil anything, but it has to do with two floating cities) has a very eerie feeling to it.

This is a must have, as it connects the characters further along in the book and helps make way for book three.

I love this book for multiple reasons.
The first, I think, is because of one of the side characters, Spader. He's so dreamy!!! I love him soooo much!
The second is because the plot is just so fascinating. The idea that a world could exist that is completely on water is just so cool.
The third is because of Saint Dane, the evil dude trying to take over Halla(all existence, all times, all places, and all creatures, great or small). He's such an evil person I just could hit him. ARRGGG!
The fourth reason is because of Bobby. I think he's one of the funniest characters I've ever read about(yes, I'm saying he even tops Ron Weasley in Harry Potter!).
I love this second installment so much!
You should definitely surrender to your craving!! Way to go DJ!

I loved this book, it is fun and creative. I didn't want to put it down. This series is fun for all ages.

Before I begin, let me say that I'm an adult (to give this review some context).

I read "The Merchant of Death" (Pendragon #1) a couple of weeks before ordering this book. I enjoyed "Merchant". I thought it was inventive and unusual, and it certainly addresses issues that young adults face. I'm sure kids enjoy reading books where their peers are heroes.

This book is even better. I say that for two reasons. The setting of the first book is quite grim. That was appropriate for the story it told, but it was kind of a downer, reading about those people being exploited. This book's setting is incredible - a world covered entirely by water where humans live on floating, barge-like habitats. I love water, and if I could somehow visit that world, I would do so in a heartbeat.

The other reason I like this book better is that the new Traveler we meet is incredibly endearing. I like Loor. She's a great person to have at your side. However, the Traveler we meet in this story is very funny, and that makes this book a lighter read (in tone) than the first one. He's also flawed, though, which makes things interesting. I relate to him better than I relate to Loor. (Does she have a flaw? I don't think I've spotted it yet.)

Overall, I recommend this book with a big smile on my face. It's a good ride, the characters are endearing, the setting incredible, the themes well developed, and it leaves you wanting more.

See you at Grolo's! Last one there buys the Sniggers!

This book was not up to the usual quality that I had purchased before. But Amazon fixed the problem so all is well.

Dinotopia was the first book James Gurney wrote in this series. The artwork was what initially drew me into the story and I found sweatshirts, posters, calendars, pins...you name it, with these chaarcters on them. The storyline was easy to follow, as it was written in diary format.

The things I really found interesting were the song (notes and lyrics) and the code for the Dinotopian written language (footprints). My students love writing letters and stories in Dinotopian to each other and for daily assignments. After teaching it for almost 10 years students are as much in love with the story as I am and they want to read it over and over. The artwork makes for great writing prompts and gives kids ideas for sculpture and watercolor pieces.

I remember reading this book as a child and loving it. Today I think I love it even more. The illustrations are so rich and well executed. I'm sad it isn't published in hardcover anymore. Every household should own a copy.

You might just end up with "Dinotopia". That's how good the illustrations and paintings in this book are, and should be the primary reason for purchasing the book. The artwork is absolutely first class, and the book can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. I purchased "Dinotopia" in 1992 when it was first released, and subsequently, picked up its sequel "The World Beneath". They both still hold a special place on my book shelf more than 10 years later. HIGHLY recommended!

This book has a lot about dinosaur names and how the dinosaurs lived, even the plants they eat. There are a lot of pictures that can help you to learn to recognize them. It is all very well drawn.

But it has a different perspective because they think of time differently, not as 1 o'clock but as when to do certain things, such as times to harvest.

It is very good realistic fiction because it makes you feel like you are a part of the story. It is written as a journal, kind of like talking to you, which makes the story seem more real.

The plot is very complicated. So it always keeps your attention and keeps you turning the pages. There is not a lot of action, but when there is it is very realistic because you feel the danger and excitment.

If you want to hear the truth about the old days, here it is. This was a perfect example of what many people in El Barrio saw and/or did. Its so real that if you read certain passages slowly, and then close your eyes, you could actually see how it went down. This book can help you look deep and realize that we, in this day and age, have it 50 times better than our fathers and grandfathers. Lets thank our stars and our parents. Praise to you "Don" Piri.

Down These Mean Streets is the story of Piri Thomas' journey into adulthood. The book is set in Spanish Harlem in the 1940s. The author's writing style is refreshing and lyrical. He uses some Spanish words here and there(readers might find the glossary in the back of the book helpful), and kicks in a few slang words as well, which makes the dialogs that much more genuine.

Piri struggles through poverty, family troubles, and desperately wanting to belong. He fights with being a dark skinned Puerto Rican during a time when racism was strong, and trying to find his place as neither black nor white. Piri did some not-so-good things in his life, being in a gang, drug addiction, and armed robbery among other things, but throughout it all it is easy to tell that Piri is a good guy at heart.

Overall, this is a captivating story. You might find yourself wondering what you would have done faced with the same situations. I even found myself rooting for Piri at times. This book is still a very accurate depiction of "the hoods" of New York, despite being published for the first time about 40 years ago.

I was sad to have to finish the book, and in the end I felt like I knew Piri. I look forward to re-reading this book over the years. It is truly a classic. Everyone should read it. Anyone can find something in the story that they will be able to relate to.

This book really told me what it was like to live in Harlem in the 40s. The discrimination and racism is real and raw (although Mr Thomas does get a little jaded and think all white people are bad). The way he describes coming off heroin is realistic, colorful, and explosive. This whole book is very alive, as a memoir. It was funny to see the slang they used back then!

I've read this book more than a few times and have taught it to different level readers a few extra times. There was one high school student who came to me after the book was done and told me, "This is the first book I ever finished." Even if it's not the first book you've read, you'll find writing that is fearless, honest, and powerful. You won't forget it, and if you're really lucky, you'll get to share it with someone else.

Grabbed it off my english teachers shelf junior year of high school, loved it so much I never gave it back. This is an amazingly wonderful book. Vivid writing style...I could see every last detail in my head. It was like a movie in my brain. Love it.

I just love this book, its addictive! When choosing a book to read my daughter before bed I usually end up picking this one!

Great for pre-schoolers. Some of the rhymes are a bit forced but it is charming nonetheless. A very fun read!

This has become one of our favorite books for our 6 mo old son. Everyone thinks its funny when we read it, including him. If only he could eat the pages!

It bores my son after a couple of weeks and he's not yet three. At first though, he did really like it. Cute rhymes that are easy to remember, and he loved screaming the responses at first.

A favorite read-aloud for toddlers and preschoolers! The simple questions, cadence and rhyme make it easy to read and remember. The board book version is excellent for little hands learning how to handle books.

This is an AWESOME story for kids and grown-ups alike--for all the right reasons! Berkeley Breathed weaves such a rich and colorful tapestry with his words and the illustrations will make you "fall on the floor laughing!" It is a delightful Christmas story about the human experience and one of enlightment without any deep religious undertones. It's old-fashioned in the respect that it has a "moral." It's tickles one's fancy because the story is based on an actual "thing" that can be visited with wonder and intrigue. I know because my family had to make a "pilgramage" years ago to see it with our own eyes!!

As a Realtor in the Portland, Oregon, area I make it a habit to give this book to clients every Christmas...whether they have kids or not! You certainly won't be sorry for the purchase and I truly believe you're getting an excellent value for the cost. Enjoy!

Leslie Newberry
Cell: 503-349-2727

This is my favorite Christmas story, hands down. I cannot read it without getting choked up and teary... and it's NOT a sappy story! This tells of a young boy who has a run-in with an old man who may or may not be Santa Claus; the boy has little and believes in even less, though his encounter changes that. Don't think you know how this ends though - the boy is not easily won, and he does more for the old man than the other way around. The final image will give you chills... (in a good way)
DON'T SKIP TO THE END! IT IS BEST AS A SURPRISE.

This is my favorite Christmas story. The story is great, the pictures are amazing and it makes even my older child think twice. I gave this book as a gift to several neighbors this year and they are all believers now! We read this every year.

The Red Ranger Came Calling has overtaken every other book, even my now #2 pick How The Grinch Stole Christmas, as my "must-tell" Christmas story. I am not able to read it aloud without tearing up at some point, curiously not always at the SAME point in the story.
This is a tall tale, more accurately the re-telling of a tall tale, and it's poignant message to remember to "look up" when seeking answers. The beautiful story for all ages is matched in brilliance with the artwork of Breathed. I have yet to find a child or adult who doesn't "get" the story and its beautiful moral. One need not be an Opus fan to love this book and appreciate the artistry inside.

I'd bought this for myself because I love the Bloom County/Outland series. This last Xmas I needed a gift for a 5 year old boy. Remembered how much I loved this book but on the re-read remembered it brought into play the concept that Santa dosen't exist, then resolves it. As it turns out it arms a kid with some fun mythology to run with. And the art is incredible.

After reading so many praises from young adult readers, I'd like to make a suggestion for adult readers of historical fiction. I read this book, not so that I could instill a love of reading for my children, but rather, for my own pleasure in reading young adult fiction. The books may not involve many subplots, intrigues, and thickly woven characterizations, but certain ones can immerse you into their world of historical make-believe and even lead you to tears. I for one cried when reading this book. The way Louise Erdrich handles the coping of virulent illness and death through the eyes of a child is incredible. Not only does she paint this glorious heroine from a late 1800s Ojibwa girl, but she makes me dwell on the delicate vitality of the human soul and the subtle interconnectedness of each other. Yes, this book describes accurately the lives of the Ojibwa people of that time, but more importantly, above the cultural/historical lesson, the most prominent lesson from Erdrich's storytelling is her unveiling of human transformation into maturity clothed in the culture of the Ojibwa girl, Omakayas. Her auspicious past, her gifts with animals, her perseverance in caring for her family during the smallpox epidemic, and her coping with her brother's death -- for readers to feel that the book has a slow start, Erdrich more than likely chose to portray Omakayas' life in that way because that was exactly the pace it was. Meaning to say, it's not always violence and passion every minute, every chapter. The life of Ojibwas had a steady rhythm that followed the course of nature and only when the white settlers introduced themselves did that rhythm falter. For people who'd like an exciting quick read having to do with Native American history, I can't think of any. But for people who want to see life through a young girl's eyes -- life that involved hard work, sacrifice, love, death and living with what nature has provided, then this book is an excellent choice. Otherwise, there are a lot of old western novels that involve Native Americans (inaccurately of course) that would provide more of a thrill ride, if thrills are what you seek.

I purchased this book for my daughter who is attending CSUN. It arrived in a week and was in good condition, just like the description said.
Very happy with this purchase and many others.

This sweet, tender, sometimes humorous book, chronicles a year in the life of Omakayas, a seven year old girl who lives with her tribe on an island near Lake Superior. The book is divided into four main sections, each relating to a season of the year, just as the Native America daily life is based. Through Omakayas, children learn as they read about how she helps build a birch bark house, how she does her chores, and many other important details of Native American life. This makes the book especially invaluable for the fifth grade Social Studies curriculum. Many Native American words are used throughout this book, but this is done in a manner which makes their meaning apparent. There is even a glossary for these words in the back of the book. Children will love this book as Omakayas makes friends with animals and deals with feelings about her family, loss, fear, happiness, and contentment, as well as other feelings familiar to the young reader.

Generations of American children have grown up reading Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I'm in one of those generations. These stories gave us a view into settlers moving into formerly Indian territories and the hardships of breaking new lands to the plow, fighting weather, droughts, floods, and illness. These stories are our stories of conquering the prairie West. But there's another story that needs to be told and this story is of the Indians we died of disease and starvation and were moved off the lands so that white settlers could build farms and towns.

Laura Ingalls Wilder told the only stories she could tell - one dimensional tales of white people in a white nation. Louise Erdrich tells the story she is equipped to tell - one of a rich group of people living together in the Northern prairie lands. In this story Omakayas is a young Ojibwe girl living with her family, but the characters aren't all Indian. There's Albert LaPautre, a Frenchman who bumbles through trades and wild visions. There's Omakayas' father who works to pay off his yearly debt to the trading post and knows how to play chess so well that he can sometimes win enough food to help his family through hard times. There's Old Tallow, a medicine woman with a pack of angry dogs who teaches kind lessons through harsh examples.

For Omakayas and her family life is both hard and wonderful. There's enough sadness in the book to make you cry and enough happiness to make a child play-act the parts. The one thing I love about native storytelling is the respect shown to animals and plants that are needed to survive. Ms. Erdrich tells of this relationship with the skill of a master storyteller.

This book is richer and more complete than Little House on the Prairie. It's a responsible book and deserves more accolades and a greater following than that earlier work. It's brilliant and sensitive and fun. Everyday life never made me feel so fully. Please let all children in your life read this beautiful book.

- CV Rick, May 2008

We had to read the Birchbark House for a 7th grade class assignment. I thought this book was kind of interesting, because it had some funny parts and some sad parts in the middle of the story. In the beginning it was really boring. Sometimes it's hard to understand because they used a lot of Indian words but they provide a glossary. I think thee book could use some more funny and violent parts to get people interested to read more. I gave this book 3 stars because it was an o.k. book. It was kind of boring in the beginning but it got a lot better. It needed more funny parts. It was a good book but not one I would have picked. I would recommend this book to high schoolers, but they have to have a little Indian in them to understand you must like: sad, boring, exciting, and funny to enjoy this book.

After having spent a great deal of money and time on other books which tend to just showcase only the artists work with little to no value to the budding colored pencil artist, finding this book made ALL the difference. My technique and understanding of the use of colored pencils for realistic painting has blossomed and I credit it to the extensive use of this book.

It is not only a fine book on the techniques used by Ms. Kullberg, but it also encompasses the ENTIRE piece, from structure and form of the background to the tiniest of details on the face, hands and clothing. I cannot sing of its praises enough.

If you are seeking a book on portraiture, you could not spend your money more wisely. I recommend this book above any others for presentation--it's like having an art teacher there whenever you need them!

I have taken a workshop by Ann Kullberg she teaches colored pencil so clearly that even I learned something. I have read this book and one of her other books. Colored pencil painting done by showing the importance of layering colors in creating shapes with depth and richness in colors. I've since used what I learned from Kullberg in my other painting mediums. I've got nothing but praise for this book!

For those interested in the colored pencil medium, this is a descriptive reference for portraiture creation.

When I recieved this book, the first thing I did was skim through it entirely. It is very informative and well written, going into excellent detail in technique and color theory for the medium of colored pencil. After settling down with enough time to properly read it ( although the chapters are detailed enough that it is not necessary to do so), I also found that the techniques explained incorperate very well into my own personal style of drawing. It will definatly remain, as a great reference, in my studio for years to come! I recommend this book to anyone who loves colored pencil or those that have no idea just what a colored pencil can do.

Colored Pencil Portraits
I have been a non-professional artist for over 50 years, and I do primarily portraits of people and pets. This book offered very thorough help. For example, the author showed how to create your own guide for skin tones using the brand of pencils she uses. It made it very easy to create the same effects.

She also gave quite a bit of space to explaining how to do a background, and showing good and bad examples of how to place the main subject within the "frame" of the background. Many full color examples of what she is trying to explain make the book enjoyable and easy to understand the points she is making.

All in all, this book is well worth buying if you do portraits--or would like to.

I haven't actually read this book in many years but it was a favorite of mine as a child. I remember my mother reading it to me night after night after night and then taking a trip into Boston to see all of the places mentioned. It's a great story and the illustrations are beautiful. I now use it as a gift for new moms to read to their children.

Prior to a planned trip to Boston, I purchased Make Way For Ducklings for my grandchildren who were three and a half and five and a half at the time. Their mom was running in the Boston Marathan. Knowing that we would be taking them to the Public Gardens and they would see the "ducklings"..this was a perfect history lesson written so well for little ones and adults to learn...Highly recommended

This book is simply sublime. I had it as a child, got it for my own children over 25 years ago, and now am buying a copy for my new grandson. Everything about this book is wonderful!

This classic picture book details the lives of the Mallard family in the Public Garden of Boston. This is an excellent read for kids of all ages, and is a good introduction to Caledecott books.

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard explore all the nooks and crannies of Boston and the Back Bay, before settling on the perfect place to raise their family. A true love letter to the Boston of 60 years ago (complete with Irish cops!), it is a classic that speaks to people from everywhere, and families worldwide, on the love and nurturing that parents show for their children.

According to my 9-year old, this book is the bomb for kids between the ages of about 9 and 13 (maybe older). The author tells a vivid story and sucks children right into the book! It's great, and my 9-year old would buy it again in a heartbeat. Have a great time reading!

The fiction book I have read is Animorphs The Message. In this book a girl named Cassie and her friends try to save whatever is calling Cassie in her dreams from the bottom of the ocean. At first the others dont believe her but one of their friends Tobias also says he's having the same dreams.The kids morph into dolpins and go into the ocean and try to save what they think is a andilite. They incounter a life threatning battle with sharks and Marcoe gets injured so badly he almost dies. They try to finish what they started before it's to late and Visser Three finds them. I reccomend this book to a 5th or 6th grader. Also for whoever likes suspenseful action filled books. If you do like this book I inspirer you to read the whole series.

I am a sixth grader.The author of the book is K.A.Applegate. The characters names are Cassie,Tobias,Jake,Rachel,Marco,Tom,and Chapman.I liked this book because it has kids who can turn into any kind of animal.It is about friendship.It is also about a mission that they have to go on.My favorite part of the book is when Cassie turns into a dolphin to get to the ocean.What I dislike about the book is that they can not tell us there last name because if they do they will be killed or be made slaves.

I thought this book was really good, the Animorphs took a good underwater adventure. I thought the whole book was fast paced, my favorite part was when they were in dolphin morphs and faught that shark.

This is one of the best books in the Animorphs. It is also a crucial part of the series. I have read this book at least ten times. Cassie is my favorite Animorph, and this is the first book told from her point of view. It's generally about the Animorphs adventuring under the sea to find out whether someone is down there calling to them, but there were lots of smaller bits that I really liked.